More than 250 attendees stood with National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF) CEO Val D. Bias as he raised a glass to toast NHF’s 70th anniversary at its annual Red Tie Soiree fundraising gala. The toast recognized the 70 years of service, education, healthcare advocacy and funding for research that have been the pillars of the organization since its founding in 1948.
The Red Tie Soiree, held May 9 at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York, paid tribute to four honorees: Margaret Ragni, MD, MPH, who received the Leadership in Research Award; Michael Tarantino, MD, who received the Excellence in Healthcare Award; Genentech, which received the Corporate Impact Award; and Jeanne White-Ginder, who received the Inspiration Award. Veteran broadcast journalist Jodi Applegate reprised her role as emcee for the event.
In his opening remarks, Bias reflected on NHF’s 70-year history, which has seen great breakthroughs in treatment as well as devastating setbacks. But, he said, “we have met those challenges and persevered.” He noted that the organization was started by a family who wanted a better future for their son with hemophilia—a theme that unites the bleeding disorders community today.
A special paddle pledge and auction raised more than $50,000 for NHF’s Connections for Learning program, which provides grants to families in need to attend NHF’s Bleeding Disorders Conference, where the families receive necessary education and support. The pledge was kicked off by Milo Cedeno, a 10-year-old boy with hemophilia, who spoke movingly about living with hemophilia and the support his family has found through the bleeding disorders community and NHF.
The Red Tie Soiree raised more than $343,000 in support of NHF’s mission. NHF is thankful to 70th Anniversary Sponsor Genentech; Visionary Sponsor Shire; Hero Sponsor the Hemophilia Alliance; Leader Sponsors CSL Behring, BioMarin and Greenberg Traurig; and Donor Sponsors Novo Nordisk, CVS Specialty, the Bleeding & Clotting Disorders Institute, Kedrion Biopharma, Medscape Education, National Cornerstone Healthcare Services, Octapharma, Bayer, Spark Therapeutics, Pfizer and Grifols for their support.